Hui Village Ancient Tower

Hui Village Ancient Tower

Hui Village Ancient Tower is a national key cultural relic protection unit.

Hui Village Ancient Tower is located in Hui Village, Kunlun Town, Zichuan District, Zibo City. It dates back to the Ming Dynasty. In 2013, it was designated as part of the fourth batch of provincial-level cultural heritage sites by the Shandong Provincial People's Government.

In Hui Village, Kunlun Town, Zichuan District, Zibo City, there is a majestic and ingenious courtyard-style ancient tower complex, which is widely celebrated for its unique architectural style and is regarded as a sacred palace in the hearts of many local villagers. The towers are typical of northern Chinese courtyard-style buildings, constructed with blue bricks and tiles, forming an integrated whole. They are considered majestic due to their towering main building flanked closely by auxiliary structures; they are seen as ingenious because of the balanced arrangement between towers and halls, and the cohesive courtyard layout.

The main tower is situated to the north, featuring three bays and four stories, measuring 11.5m × 6.1m. Each floor varies in height, and the entire structure stands 20 meters tall. Between the first and second floors, there is an open-air staircase equipped with railings and a terrace, allowing direct access to the second floor. The second and third floors have stone flooring, while the fourth floor has wooden flooring. The interior staircase is extremely narrow and steep, only wide enough for one person at a time. The fourth floor offers spacious interiors, with views upward to the roof’s beams, rafters, and tiles, and outward to the vibrant green fields, neatly arranged residential buildings, and the distant Lishan Mountain, Kunlun Mountain, and high-rises of Zichuan County over ten kilometers away.

The east and west side towers are both three bays and two stories, measuring 11m × 5.8m, and stand 15 meters tall. They flank the main tower like loyal attendants. The hall building is located to the south, featuring five bays and one story, measuring 18.5m × 10m, with corridors on both the front and rear sides, providing a spacious entrance ideal for receiving guests. Additionally, tunnels connect the towers, leading outside the village for use in case of bandit attacks.

The entire tower complex is unified in design, with clear hierarchy and distinct functions. The main tower has four stories, the auxiliary towers have two, and the hall building has one. The 400㎡ building complex is condensed within a rectangular area of 1000㎡, resulting in a land occupancy ratio of 1:2.5. Despite the compactness created by the towering and enclosed layout, the space feels well-organized and harmonious.

On October 7, 2019, Hui Village Ancient Tower was included in the eighth batch of national key cultural relic protection units.

Kunlun Town: Located in the southern part of Zichuan District, Kunlun Town borders Baita Town of Boshan District. It covers a total area of 99.8 square kilometers, governs 49 villages and residential communities, and has a registered population of 93,000. It is a nationally recognized key town, one of Zibo City’s first pilot central towns, and a demonstration town in Shandong Province’s Hundred Towns Construction Action. It has been honored with titles such as National Famous Ceramics Town, Shandong Province Ceramics Industry Base, and Shandong Province Medium and Small Forging and Stamping Equipment Industry Base.

In recent years, Kunlun Town has focused on demonstration town construction, with scientific development as its theme, structural adjustment as its main thread, and the goal of building an industrial powerhouse, a famous ceramics town, and a district... [More details about Kunlun Town++]

Further reading:

· Fourth Batch of Shandong Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units

· Eighth Batch of National Key Cultural Relic Protection Units